Doffing attachment for hosiery loopers



June 12, 1956 G. F. sTARNl-:S 2,749,857

DOTTTNG ATTACHMENT FOR HosTERY LooPERs Filed Oct. 26, 1953 Z Sheets-Sham 1 Gsm-@af F. Sr/w/vfs, INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

June 12, 1956 G. F. sTARNl-:s

DOFFING ATTACHMENT FOR HOSIERY LOOPERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1953 nited States Patent @thee DOFFING ATTACHNIENT F R HOSIERY LOOPERS George F. Starnes, Hickory, N. C., assignor of fifty per cent to Glenn A. Starnes and titty per cent to Wynn E. Starnes, both of Hickory, N. C.

Application October 26, 1953, Serial No. 388,135

9 Claims. (Cl. i12-25) This invention relates to looper machines of the type used for looping the toes of circularly knit or seamless hosiery, and it is the primary object of this invention to provide a doting attachment embodying simple and effective means to automatically press each successive hose oft` the usual dial needles or dial loop points after each hose has been looped and immediately following the severing of the seaming thread employed in seaming or looping together the two fabric sections of the toe of the hose.

The improved dofling attachment is particularly designed for use with, but is not to be limited to, so-called steady dial loopers of types manufactured by Southern Textile Machinery Company, Incorporated, Paducah, Kentucky, and which are known as Wright and Sotco Models. As is well known in the art, seamless hose are knit on circular knitting machines during the course of which the foot and instep of each hose is formed by rotary knitting after which a toe pocket is formed by reciprocatory knitting. The entire complement of needles of the circular knitting machine is then thrown into operation and a circular loop line course is knit in which relatively loose stitches are formed and, thereafter, a plurality of looping courses, commonly known as loopers rounds, are knitted, thus leaving an open toe on the hose which is looped or seamed on a looping machine, usually of the character described.

The usual type of looper includes a constantly rotating dial provided with radially projecting closely spaced dial needles or dial points onto which an operator impales the loop line course of each successive hose. Thereafter, each successive hose is successively moved past a loopers rounds trimmer, through a trimmer brush for wiping the residual yarn away from the loop line course and then past a sewing mechanism or chain stitcher, in which the two halves of the toe pocket are stitched together. Thereafter, each hose moves past a seaming thread clipping device or chain clipper for severing the thread employed in stitching the two halves of the loop line course together.

Heretofore, it has been necessary for the same operator who impales the loop line course of each successive hose on the dial points to also dolf each successive looped hose by pressing the loop line course off the dial points, with the result that a substantial number of the bare dial points would move past the operator in the interim between impaling the stitches of the loop line course of adjacent hose on the dial points.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide an automatic doing attachment for loopers, including a blade positioned subsequent to the chain clipper. Means are provided to reciprocate the blade substantially radially of the dial and above the dial points, and said blade also moves in a substantially elliptical or orbital path about an axis substantially parallel to the path of travel of the dial points so that, upon each active or outward stroke of the blade, it moves closely adjacent the upper surfaces of the needles to thereby engage and press the corresponding portion of the seamed or stitched loop line l course of each successive hose off the dial points. At the termination of each active stroke of the blade, the blade moves upwardly and is then withdrawn in an inactive stroke in substantially spaced relationship above the dial points so the blade engages the seamed or stitched loop line course only in the course of each active stroke thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dotling attachment of the character described which may be so adjusted that it will do only the portions of the loop line course or courses which have been properly seamed or stitched together so that any of the hose which have not been properly stitched together will remain impaled on the dial points and may again pass through the serially arranged instrumentalities of the looper.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a dofling attachment of the character described wherein the blade extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the dial points above which it moves so that several active strokes of the blade are required in order to remove each successive stitch of the loop line course from its corresponding dial point, rather than a single stroke of the blade being required for doing each stitch, thereby avoiding damage to the loop line stitches during the doffing operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an apparatus of the character described wherein the lower edge of the blade is roughened or serrated to insure traction between the lower edge of the blade and the upper edge of the seam, upon each active stroke of the blade.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, partially in section, of a portion of the dial of a looping machine showing the conventional seaming thread clipper and the improved doliing attachment associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view looking up at the lower side of Figure l and showing the improved doling attachment in elevation, but being a substantially radial section through the dial of the looping machine and its associated gear housing and showing the blade in retracted position;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the right-hand portion of Figure 2, but showing the blade in the course of an active stroke and in engagement with the upper edge of a portion of the seam of a properly looped hose;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating how the lower edge of the blade of the improved doing attachment passes above the upper edge of the hose, in the course of an active stroke thereof, in the absence of stitches being formed from the seaming thread in th loop line course of the hose;

Figure S is a diagrammatic illustration showing the relationship of the improved dollng attachment to the conventional serially arranged operating instrumentalities or stations of the looping machine, said stations being identied by legends;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of the improved doing attachment looking generally in the direction of the arrow 6 in Figure l and showing a looped hose partially doled from the dial needles or points;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view similar to the upper right-hand portion of Figure 2, but showing the improved dol-ling attachment in the course of a return or inactive stroke thereof.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the nu meral 10 indicates a stationary disk of a conventional looper which is fixed on the lower end of a shaft 11 carried by the conventional frame part 12 of the Patented June 12, 1956.

looper. The looper has conventional means, not shown, for continuously driving a drive shaft 13 which overlies the disk 10 and has a helical gear 14 fixed thereon which meshes with a rnating helical gear` 15 fixed on the upper end of. a` vertically disposed shaft 16. The gears 14 and 15' are disposed in an upp'er gear housing 17 having a cover` 1 8 thereon (Figure 6,)1 Housing 17 is carried byp'the stationary disk 10 which also supports a lower gear housing 20 therebeneath, downwardly into which the shaft I6 extends. The lower end of shaft I6 has a worm 2-1 fixed thereon which meshes with a worm gear 22 xed on a lateral shaft 23. The lateral shaft 4Z3 extends outwardly and has a gear 24 ixed thereon which meshes with a ring gear 25 integral with a rotary disk or dial ring 26.

The dial ring 26 is supported for rotation on, and encircles, they stationary disk 10. The rotary disk or dial ring 26 is provided with a circular series of radially projecting dial loop points or dial needles 27 for receiving the loops of the edge portions of the fabric to be united and supporting and advancing them past the conventional serially arranged operating instrumentalities of the looper, most of which are only shown diagrammatically in'` Figure v5.

Y It will be observed in Figure that the front portion of the dial points or needles 27 of the looper are free fo provide a hose donning area designated at A in Figure 5. Each hose has a circular loop line course C (Figures 4 and 5) which is formed in two halves to be united or seamed, the two upper edge portions or halves of the hose being designated at 31 and 32 in Figures 3, 4 and 6. As the dial points 27 move past the hose donning area A in Figure 5, two complementary stitches from opposite halves of the loop line course C are impaled on each dial point by the operator. Thereafter, the dial points 27 advance each successive hose past a donning cam 34 which insures that the loops or stitches in the loop line course C are seated against the outer surface of the rotary disk or dial ring 26.

Thereafter, the dial points 27 advance the hose past a loop'ers rounds trimmer 35 carried by the dial 10 and being shown schematically in Figure 5. The loopers rounds trimmer is provided for the well known purpose of severing the loopers rounds from the loop line course C. Thereafter, the hose passes beneath a trimmer brush 36, also shown schematically in Figure 5, which operates in the usual manner to brush the loose threads, carried by the loopsl in the loop line course C therefrom, after which the edge portions 31 and 32 are joined together at the loop line course C by a conventional chain stitcher or sewing mechanism 37, shown schematically in Figure 5.

As is well known in the art, the chain stitcher or sewing mechanism has means for sewing a seam S (Figure 3)' at the loop line course C in which a seaming thread is looped through each of the complementary pairs of stitches :in the loop line course C. The chain stitcher or sewing mechanism 37 also operates continuously in timed relation to movement of the dial ring or rotary disk 26 so a chain is formed from the seaming thread by the sewing mechanism 37 between the loop line courses C of adjacent hose impaled on the dial points 27. Accordingly, after each successive hose `has passed through the chain stitcher or sewing mechanism 37, itis then advanced to a seaming thread clipper or chain clipper which automatically severs the looping or seaming thread rearwardly of the trailing. edge of each successive hose. The improved dofng attachment, to be later described, is disposed immediately adjacent, and subsequent to, the seaming thread clipper or chain clipper 40 and, since the means employed in operating the searning thread clipper or chain clipper is also used for imparting reciprocatory movement to the blade of the improved dofting attachment, and to cause the blade of the improved doffi'ng attachment to move in an orbital, elliptical or rotary path about an axis parallel to, and above, the path of travel of the dial points 27, the seaming yarn clipper or chain clipper 4t) will now be described sufciently in detail to provide a clear understanding of the improved doing attachment.

Chain clipper The seam thread clipper or chain clipper 40 is conventional and comprises a duplex bracket 41 which is suitably secured to the stationary disk 19, extends outwardly and overlies the path of travel ofthe dia'l points 27. The outer end of bracket 41 has a horizontally disposed stud 42 loosely mounted therein whichV is urged rearwardly, relative to the direction of travel of the corresponding portions of the dial points 27, by a compression spring 43. An upper knife 44 is oscillatably mounted intermediate its ends on the front end of said stud 42 and the upper ends of inside and outside chain kickers 45 and 46 are also pivotally mounted on the front end of stud 42 forwardly of the upper knife 44.

It will be observed in Figures l and 6 that the inside or rear chain kicker 45 extends rearwardly to form a stop 47 thereon and then downwardly so that its lower portion is disposed rearwardly of the lower portion of the upper knife 44 and the outside or front chain kicker 46 is disposed forwardly of the lower portion of the upper knife 44.

The kicker 46 also has a projection or stop 48 thereon. The stops 47 and 48 are adapted to be engaged by the outer edge of the lower portion of the upper knife 44 upon each outward or inactive stroke thereof. These projections 47 and 48 are normally urged against the outer edge of the upper knife 44 by tension springs 5h. Thus, in the course of each active or inward movement of the lower end of the upper blade 44, the springs 5h cause the kickers 45 and 46 to move inwardly with the upper knife 44.

However, if the seaming thread is held in the loops of the corresponding hose, the seaming thread limits inward movement of the kickers 4S and 46 as the upper knife 44 continues its inward movement and, upon the return or inactive stroke of the 'upper knife 44, its rear edge again engages the projections 47 and 4S preparatory to the next succeeding active stroke thereof.

On the other hand, if the s'eaming thread is not held by the loops of a corresponding hose, then the kickers 45 and 46 continue movement inwardly past the dial points 27, in the course of which the hooked lower ends thereof cause the seamin-g thread to ride up the inclined upper surface of a conventional chain guard or seaming thread guide 51, in the course of which the seaming thread is moved upwardly into the path of the upper blade 44 and is subsequently severed as the upper blade 44 moves past a conventional stationary or lower knife 52 adjustably secured to the bracket 41, as by screws 53 and 54. The screws 53 and 54 penetrate a longitudinally extending slot 55 in the lower knife 52. It should be noted that the screw 54 is substantially longer than the screw :"3 since it is used for pivotally supporting a means to virtically adjust the blade of the improved dofng attachment as will be later described.

Now, in order to oscillate the upper blade on the stud 42 in timed relation to the movement of the dial ring 26 and its dial points or needles 27, thc outer end of a longitudinally adjustable compound connecting rod or link, including outer and inner link elements 6i? and 61, is pivotally connected to the upper end of the upper knife 44, as at 62. The link elements 6i) and 6l are adjustably secured to each other, as by a screw 63, and a threaded stud, shaft or pilot pin 64. The threaded sha1 t or stud 64 is a part of the present invention; a screw like screw 63 having heretofore been employed to serve the purpose of the threaded pilot pin 64.

The outer link element 60 has a pair of longitudinally extending adjustment slots 65 therein which are slidably penetrated by the screw 63 and the stud or threaded shaft 64, the screw 63 being threadedly embedded in the link element 61 and the threaded shaft 64 slidably penetrating the outer end of link element 61 and being provided with lock nuts 67 and 68 which secure the link elements 60 and 61 together. The inner end of the inner link element 61 curves downwardly and is pivotally connected, as at 70 (Figure 1), to an eccentric or disk 71 fixed on the front end of the drive shaft.

Doping attachment The improved dolling attachment, broadly designated at 75, comprises an elongated arm 76 preferably made from a relatively thin, rigid material such as sheet metal or the like. The outer end of the arm 76 has a doing blade or wiper element 77 integral therewith and which is bent at an angle relative to the path of travel of the dial points 27 so that the trailing edge of its outer surface is disposed adjacent the fixed ends of the dial points or dial needles 27 and its other edge is disposed adjacent the free or outer ends of the dial points or dial needles 27.

It will be best observed in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 7 that the lower edge of the arm 76 is provided with a cam surface S0 thereon which is adapted to momentarily ride upon and move in sliding engagement with the upper surface of a vertically adjustable blade guide or blade arm support 81 to be later described in detail. It will also be observed in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 7 that the blade 77 extends downwardly substantially below the level of the cam surface 80 on the lower edge of the arm 76 and the lower edge of the blade 77 is preferably serrated or roughened, as at 82.

The inner end of the arm 76 is bifurcated forming upper and lower spaced projections 83 and 84 thereon which are mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in respective upper and lower slots 85 and 86 (Figure 6) in the vertical leg of a substantially L-shaped guide bracket 87. The bracket 87 may be secured to the stationary disk 10 by any suitable means, and, in this instance, an upright screw or threaded shaft 90 slidably penetrates the horizontal portion of the angle bracket 87 and is threadedly embedded in the disk 10. A lock nut 91 is threadedly mounted on the lower portion 0f the threaded shaft or screw 90 for securing the horizontal portion of the angle bracket 87 against the upper surface of the disk 10.

It will be observed in Figure 6 that the vertical portion of the bracket 87 is slotted to form relatively narrow portions 92 and 93 whose outer edges dene the inner walls of the slots 85 and 86. Although these narrow projections or portions 92 and 93 are not essential to the proper operation of the improved doiiing attachment 75, they are provided so the operator may force them outwardly or toward the portions 83 and 84 of the arm 76 in the event of the walls of the slots 85 and 86 becoming worn excessively.

The blade arm support or guide 81 is shown in the form of a laterally extending rigid wire or rod 81 whose opposite ends are bent inwardly and encircle the screw54 to permit pivotal movement of the blade arm support 81. The wire or rod S1 has an elongated portion 95 integral therewith which is formed with an elongated loop or hook portion 96 on the inner end thereof through which the screw or threaded shaft 90 loosely extends and the upper and lower surfaces of which are engaged by lock nuts or wing nuts 97 and 98 threadably mounted on the vertically disposed threaded shaft or screw 90.

It will be observed in Figures 2, 6 and 7 that the blade carrying arm 76 has an upwardly projecting portion 101 thereon which is spaced substantially above the cam surface 80 on the lower edge thereof and which is provided with a vertically extending slot 102 through which the pilot pin or threaded shaft 64 loosely extends. The upper edge of the upwardly projecting portion 101 of arm ,76 has a notch 104 therein in which the hooked front end of a spring rod or leaf spring member 105 is loosely positioned.

It will be best observed in Figures l and 6 that the spring rod 105 extends rearwardly and then downwardly and is wound about the threaded shaft or pilot pin 64 between the nut 68 and the inner link element 61. Thus, the spring 105 normally urges the blade carrying arm 76 downwardly under relatively light pressure to maintain the cam surface in engagement with the blade support or guide 81 when the pilot pin 64 occupies substantially the position shown in Figures 2 and 6.

It is thus seen that the guide 81 may be accurately adjusted by means of the wing nuts 97 and 98 on the upright threaded shaft to cause the serrated lower edge 82 of the blade 77 to barely miss the stitches in the loop line course C impaled on the dial points 27 in the course of each outward or active stroke thereof, so the serrated lower edge 82 of the blade 77 will engage only the seaming thread when it is properly looped through the stitches of the loop line course C in the course of each outward or active stroke thereof as is shown in Figure 3.

Assuming the parts of the seaming thread clipper or chain clipper and the improved doiling attachment 75 to occupy the position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6, in operation, the eccentric or disk 71 causes the rear end of the inner link element 61 to move downwardly and forwardly and then upwardly in an arcuate path and in a counterclockwise direction in Figures 2 and 6. In so doing, the pilot pin 64 moves out of engagement with the left-hand wall of slot 102 in Figure 2, across the slot 102 and into engagement with the right-hand wall of slot 102, whereupon it then transmits outward movement or an active stroke to the arm '76 and its dofting blade 77.

It should be noted that the cam surface 80 then moves in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the blade arm guide 81 and the caln surface S0 should extend on a plane parallel to the radial plane of the upper surfaces of the dial points 27 so the displacement between the serrated lower edge 82 of the blade 77 and the upper surfaces of the corresponding dial points 27 remains constant throughout each active stroke of the blade 77.

Thus, as heretofore stated, if the loop line course C is properly looped by the looper or seaming thread as shown in Figures 3 and 6, the stitches in the loop line course C are progressively moved olf or doffed from the dial points 27 with repeated active strokes of the blade 77. On the other hand, if the loop line course C has not been properly looped by the seaming or looper thread, due to malfunction of the chain stitcher or sewing mechanism 37, the serrated lower edge 82 of the blade 77 merely passes over the stiches in the loop line course C and permits the stitches in the loop line course C to remain irnpaled on the dial points 27 so they are again passed through the chain stitcher or sewing mechanism.

Now, when the pivot point 70 of the compound link 60, 61 has reached its extreme outward position, that is, a point diametrically opposite from that shown in Figures 2 and 6, the blade 77 will have reached the extreme limit of an active stroke thereof and, with further movement of the pivot point 70 in a counter-clockwise direction in Figures 2 and 6, the link moves upwardly therewith about the pivot point 62 at which it is connected to the upper knife 44 of the seaming thread clipper or chain clipper 40. Thus, the pilot pin 64 moves upwardly in sliding engagement with the outer or right-hand wall of slot 102 in Figures 2 and 6 and then engages the curved upper wall of said slot 102 and, in so doing, elevates the blade and then imparts an inward stroke to the blade 77.

It is thus seen, that upon the return or inactive stroke of the blade 77, it is spaced sufficiently from the dial points 27 to insure that the blade amply clears the properly seamed or looped stitches of the loop line course C which have not been previously thrust outwardly on the dial points 27 by the serrated lower edge S2 of the blade 77. When the pivot point 70 of the compound link 60, 61 has reached its highest point on the eccentric 71 (Figure 7), the pilot pin 64 then commences to move downwardly and rearwardly in an arcuate path to return the blade to its innermost position as shown in Figure 2.

j It is evident that the doifer .blade 77 of the improved doiiing attachment 7S is actuated each time the chain clipper or searning thread clipper 40 is actuated so that continuous reciprocatory movement is imparted tothe dofer blade 77, during which the doffer blade moves .in a substantially elliptical path about a horizontal axis as the dial points or needles 27 pass therebeneath about a vertical axis.

It is thusseen that I have provided means for automatically doing each successive properly looped hose from the dial points or needles 27, thus leaving the operators hands free to continuously impale the loop line course C of successive hose on the dial pins and thereby greatly increasing the productive capacity of the looper. Also, an important feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the improved doiiing attachment will not doff any hose from the dial points 27 which are not looped and, since the operator is relieved of the responsibility of dofng the hose after they have been looped, the improved dofiing attachment obviates the possibility of any hose which have not been looped being thrust off the dial points 27.

Of course, upon failure of the sewing mechanism or chain stitcher 37 to properly loop a hose, upon this hose appearing at the hose positioning area A in Figure 5, this will serve as a warning to the operator that the chain stitcher or sewing mechanism is not operating properly and so the operator may stop the looper and make the necessary repairs thereto, such as threading the seaming yarn through the needles of the chain stitcher or sewing mechanism 37.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

l. In a looping machine having a rotary .circular series of radially extending dial points movable about a substantially vertical axis and also having a sewing mechanism for forming a seam from a seaming thread looped through and over complementary loops of a hose impaled on Ysaid dial points, the combination of a dofting blade having a serrated edge disposed adjacent and above the level of a portion of said dial points subsequent to said sewing mechanism, means for imparting active and inactive strokes to said blade in a reciprocatory manner substantially parallel to the radially projecting dial points, means normally maintaining said dofng blade in predetermined spaced relationship to said dial points, less than the height of the upper portions of the seaming thread connecting adjacent complementary loops and greater than the height of said complementary loops in the course of each active stroke thereof whereby said edge of the doffing blade wiil engage and doti only hose which have been properly looped and any other successive hose will remain impaled on the dial points, means for raising said dong blade away from said dial points upon each inactive stroke thereof to cause the blade to clear the upper portions of the seaming thread, and means for lowering said blade into said predetermined spaced relationship to the dial points as the doffing blade reaches the limit of each inactivev stroke thereof.

2. In a. looping machine having a sewing mechanism and a rotary circular series of radially projecting dial points onto which two halves of a circular course of a hose are adapted to be placed for a looping operation and being movable past said sewing mechanism for sewing said two halves together with a seaming thread and whereby the seaming thread projects above the horizontalplane of the two halves of said circular course, said machine also having a thread .clipper disposed above said dial points including a'pivoted Lknife, a driven eccentric spaced inwardly from said knife, and a link connecting vsaid eccentric with the upper end of said knife;.the combination of an arm extending substantially Vparallel to said link and having a dofng blade on :its outer end, a first guide means disposed adjacent said blade and on which said arm normally rests for maintaining said blade in predetermined spaced relation above the path of travel of said points but less than the height ofthe upper portions of the seeming thread above said points and greater than the two halves of said circular course, a second guide means for said arm spaced inwardly from said rst guide means, said arm having a relatively narrow vertically extending transverse slot Vtherein and being closed at its upper end, and a pilot pin iixed to a medial portion of said link and loosely extending through said slot in said arm whereby movement of said link imparts reciprocatory movement to said arm and blade to wipe the looped hose olf the dial points.

3. In a structure according to claim 2, means for vertically adjusting said first guide means to vary the level of said blade during outward strokes thereof.

4. In a structure according to claim 2, the upper wall of said slot being so arranged that said pin engages the same in the course of each inward stroke of said link to thereby elevate said blade to a higher level during inward movement thereof than its level during outward movement thereof.

5. In a structure according to claim 4, means for vertically adjusting said first guide means to vary the level of said blade during outward strokes thereof.

6. In a structure according to claim 4, resilient means normally urging said arm against said first guide means.

7. In a looping machine having a sewing mechanism and a rotary circular series of radially projecting dial points onto which two halves of a circular course of a hose are adapted tobe placed for a looping operation and being movable past said looping mechanism for sewing said two halves together with a seaming thread, said machine also having a thread clipper disposed above said dial points including a pivoted knife, a driven eccentric spaced inwardly from said knife, and a link connecting said eccentric with the upper end of said knife; the combination of an arm extending substantially parallel to said link and having a doiiing blade on its outer end, a rst guide means disposed adjacent said blade and on which said arm normally rests for maintaining said blade in predetermined spaced relation above the path of travel of said points but lower than the path of travel of the upper portions of the seaming thread looped through said two halves of the circular course and higher than said two halves of the circular course, a second guide means for said arm spaced inwardly from said rst guide means, said arm having a slot in its medial portion, and a pilot pin fixed to a medial portion of said link and loosely penetrating the slot in said arm whereby movement of said link imparts reciprocatory movement to said arm and blade to wipe the looped hose off the dial-points.

8. In a structure according to claim 7, said second guide means comprising a relatively thin upright bracket fixed to said looping machine and having a pair of spaced vertically alined slots therein and said arm being made from a relatively thin material and having a pair of vertically spaced projections on its inner end adapted to slidably t in said last-named slots.

9. In a looping machine having a rotary circular series of radially extending dial points movable about a substantially vertical axis and onto which two raveled edges of a hose are adapted to be placed for a looping operation, said machine also having means for looping a looper thread through and over the two raveled edges forV forming a seam; the combination of a dong element disposed subsequent to said looping means and comprising a substantially horizontal arm having a blade thereon, a first guide means upon which said arm rests and no1'- mally maintaining said blade on a level spaced above said dial points a distance less than that of the portions of said looper thread extending over the two raveled edges but greater than that of the two raveled edges, means for driving said arm and blade radially outwardly and inwardly in a reciprocatory manner over adjacent points whereby the blade presses seamed raveled edges of each successive hose 01T the dial points with cach radially outward stroke thereof, and means for raising said blade above the level of the upper surfaces of the seaming thread during each inward stroke of said blade and arm.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

